Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Lowell leads 15 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737
Palmdale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $159/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,625)
Homes cost $35k less ($362,800 vs $397,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Median income trails Palmdale by $5,406/yr
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 34°F
Households earn $5,406 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.7%)
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lowell
Violent Crime
3% lower
532.5 vs 551.0 per 100k
Lowell
Median Home Value
$35k less
$362,800 vs $397,500
Lowell
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Income
$5,406
$78,414 vs $73,008/yr
Palmdale
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lowell is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lowell leads 15 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 15 and Palmdale wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Lowell to Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $397,500 median home), income ($73,008 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Palmdale, CA are about 2,553 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.